24. Anxiety disorders, as a group, are the most
common mental health disorders in America.
About 40 million American adults are affected
by these debilitating illnesses each year. That’s
18.1% of the population.
26. Anxiety
Statistics
*Anxiety disorders are highly treatable,
yet only 36.9% of those affected receive
treatment.
*People with an anxiety disorder are 3
to 5 times more likely to go to the doctor
and 6 times more likely to be
hospitalized for psychiatric disorders
than those who do not have anxiety
disorders.
*Social Anxiety Disorder affects 15
million adults, or 6.8% of the U.S.
population.
SAD is equally common among men
and women and typically begins around
age 13. According to a 2007 ADAA
survey, 36% of people with social
anxiety disorder report experiencing
symptoms for 10 or more years before
seeking help.
27. According to NIMH, less than 43% of those with
anxiety seek treatment, and only 33.8% of those
people seek treatment considered "minimally
adequate." That means that of all the people living
with anxiety, only 14.3% are currently engaged in an
effective treatment - and that number excludes
those with daily manageable anxiety.
Anxiety Statistics
28. Clinical Example #1
10-year-old Bablu stepped off of the bus and felt his
heart race, stomach become nauseous, and began
having difficulty breathing. He became dizzy and his
chest hurt, so he called his friend to get the principal.
By the time the principal came Corey was sitting on a
chair and his face was very red. He was breathing very
fast. He said everything was spinning. He told the
principal he thought he was dying, and to call an
ambulance. By the time the Corey arrived at the
hospital he was scared, but all of the other symptoms
were gone. Routine medical tests showed nothing.
29. It is common for an anxiety
disorder to accompany
depression, eating disorders,
substance abuse, or another
anxiety disorder. Anxiety
disorders can also co-exist
with illnesses such as cancer
or heart disease.
31. Panic Inoculation Treatment
4 components
1. Psychoeducation
2. Breathing retraining
3. Cognitive Restructuring
4. Behavioral Experiments/Exposure
5. Relapse Prevention
80% show “dramatic improvement in
frequency of panic attacks, agoraphobic
avoidance, and anxiety symptomatology”
(Telch, Lucas, Schmidt, Hanna, Jaimez, &
Lucas, 1993)
32. Tactics For Easing Anxiety
Therapeutic Story
(Little Bird Who Was Afraid of
Dragons)
33. What is an anxiety disorder?
An anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition. If you
have an anxiety disorder, you may respond to certain things
and situations with fear and dread. You may also experience
physical signs of anxiety, such as a pounding heart and
sweating.
It’s normal to have some anxiety. You may feel anxious or
nervous if you have to tackle a problem at work, go to an
interview, take a test or make an important decision. And
anxiety can even be beneficial. For example, anxiety helps us
notice dangerous situations and focuses our attention, so we
stay safe.
34. But an anxiety disorder goes beyond the regular nervousness
and slight fear you may feel from time to time. An anxiety
disorder happens when:
Anxiety interferes with your ability to function.
You often overreact when something triggers your emotions.
You can’t control your responses to situations.
Anxiety disorders can make it difficult to get through the day.
Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for anxiety
disorders.
35. Who is at risk for anxiety disorders?
A mix of genetic and environmental factors can raise a person’s
risk for developing anxiety disorders. You may be at higher risk if
you have or had:
Certain personality traits, such as shyness or behavioral
inhibition — feeling uncomfortable with, and avoiding, unfamiliar
people, situations or environments.
Stressful or traumatic events in early childhood or adulthood.
Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions.
Certain physical conditions, including thyroid problems and
heart arrhythmias (unusual heart rhythms).
Anxiety disorders occur more often in women. Researchers are
still studying why that happens. It may come from women’s
hormones, especially those that fluctuate throughout the month.
The hormone testosterone may play a role, too — men have
more, and it may ease anxiety. It’s also possible that women are
less likely to seek treatment, so the anxiety worsens.
36. What are the types of anxiety disorders?
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Panic disorder.
Phobias.
Separation anxiety.
Other mental health conditions share features with anxiety
disorders. These include post-traumatic stress
disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
37. What is a panic disorder?
If you have a panic disorder, you get intense, sudden panic
attacks. These attacks often feature stronger, more intense
feelings than other types of anxiety disorders.
The feelings of terror may start suddenly and unexpectedly or
they may come from a trigger, like facing a situation you dread.
Panic attacks can resemble heart attacks. If there’s any chance
you’re experiencing a heart attack, go to the emergency room.
It’s better to err on the side of caution and have a healthcare
professional check you.
During a panic attack, you may experience:
Sweating.
Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is pounding).
Chest pain.
Feeling of choking, which can make you think you’re having
a heart attack or “going crazy.”
Panic attacks are very upsetting. People with panic disorder often
spend a lot of time worrying about the next panic attack. They
38. What is generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD)?
With GAD, you may feel extreme and unrealistic worry and
tension — even if there’s nothing to trigger these feelings. Most
days, you may worry a lot about various topics, including
health, work, school and relationships. You may feel that the
worry continues from one thing to the next.
Physical symptoms of GAD can include restlessness, difficulty
concentrating and sleeping problems.
39. What are phobias?
Phobias are an intense fear of certain situations or objects.
Some of these fears may make sense, such as a fear of snakes.
But often, the level of fear doesn’t match the situation.
Like with other anxiety disorders, you may spend a lot of time
trying to avoid situations that may trigger the phobia.
A specific phobia, or a simple phobia, is an intense fear of a
particular object or situation. It may cause you to avoid
everyday situations. Some specific phobias include fear of:
Animals, such as spiders, dogs or snakes.
Blood.
Flying.
Heights.
Injections (shots).
40. Social anxiety disorder
Healthcare providers used to call this condition social phobia.
You may have overwhelming worry and self-consciousness with
daily social situations. You may worry about others judging you
or you may be anxious that you’ll embarrass yourself or open
yourself up to ridicule. People with social anxiety disorder may
avoid social situations entirely.
41. Agoraphobia
If you have agoraphobia, you may have an intense fear of being
overwhelmed or unable to get help. Usually, you have a fear of
two or more of these environments:
Enclosed spaces.
Lines or crowds.
Open spaces.
Places outside your house.
Public transportation.
In severe situations, a person with agoraphobia may not leave
the house at all. They’re so terrified of having a panic attack in
public that they prefer to stay inside.
42. What is separation anxiety disorder?
This condition mostly happens to children or teens, who may
worry about being away from their parents. Children with
separation anxiety disorder may fear that their parents will be
hurt in some way or not come back as promised. It happens a
lot in preschoolers. But older children and adults who
experience a stressful event may have separation anxiety
disorder as well.
43. How common are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health
conditions in the U.S. They affect about 40 million Americans.
They happen to nearly 30% of adults at some point. Anxiety
disorders most often begin in childhood, adolescence or early
adulthood.
44. How do anxiety disorders affect children?
It’s normal for children to feel some amount of anxiety, worry
or fear at certain points. For example, a child may feel scared of
a thunderstorm or barking dog. A teenager might get anxious
about an upcoming test or school dance.
But sometimes, children approach these situations with
overwhelming dread or they can’t stop thinking about all the
fears tied to one of these events. It may seem that none of your
comforts help. These children often get “stuck” on their worries.
They have a hard time doing their daily activities, like going to
school, playing and falling asleep. They’re extremely reluctant
to try something new.
When thinking about your child’s anxiety levels, “getting stuck”
is key. It separates the regular worries of childhood from an
anxiety disorder that needs professional help. If the anxiety or
worry interferes with your child’s ability to function, it may be
time to seek help
45. What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They
don’t come from personal weakness, character flaws or
problems with upbringing. But researchers don’t know exactly
what causes anxiety disorders. They suspect a combination of
factors plays a role:
Chemical imbalance: Severe or long-lasting stress can change
the chemical balance that controls your mood. Experiencing a
lot of stress over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.
Environmental factors: Experiencing a trauma might trigger
an anxiety disorder, especially in someone who has inherited a
higher risk to start.
Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may
inherit them from one or both parents, like eye color.
46. What are the symptoms of an anxiety
disorder?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder you
have. General symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:
Physical symptoms:
Cold or sweaty hands.
Dry mouth.
Heart palpitations.
Nausea.
Numbness or tingling in hands or feet.
Muscle tension.
Shortness of breath.
47. Behavioral symptoms:
Inability to be still and calm.
Ritualistic behaviors, such as washing hands repeatedly.
Trouble sleeping.
48. How do I know if my child has an anxiety
disorder?
Anxiety-related problems in children share four common
features. The anxiety:
Is typically a fear or fixation that interferes with the ability to
enjoy life, get through the day or complete tasks.
Is puzzling to both the child and parents.
Does not improve after logical explanations to address the
worries.
Is treatable.
49. Mental symptoms:
Feeling panic, fear and uneasiness.
Nightmares.
Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences.
Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts.
50. How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?
If you have symptoms of an anxiety disorder, talk to your
healthcare provider. They’ll start with a complete medical
history and physical examination.
There are no lab tests or scans that can diagnose anxiety
disorders. But your provider may run some of these tests to
rule out physical conditions that may be causing symptoms.
51. Who can diagnose anxiety disorders?
If your provider finds no signs of physical illness, they may refer
you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. These mental health
professionals specialize in diagnosing and treating mental
illnesses. They may use specially designed interview and
assessment tools to figure out if you have an anxiety disorder.
Typically, the provider bases a diagnosis on:
Your reported symptoms, including how intense they are and
how long they last.
Discussion of how the symptoms interfere with your daily life.
The provider’s observation of your attitude and behavior.
Providers also consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The American Psychiatric Association
publishes the DSM-5. It’s the standard reference manual for
diagnosing mental illnesses.
52. How are anxiety disorders treated?
An anxiety disorder is like any other health problem that
requires treatment. You can’t will it away. It’s not a matter of
self-discipline or attitude. Researchers have made a lot of
progress in the last few decades in treating mental health
conditions. Your healthcare provider will tailor a treatment plan
that works for you. Your plan may combine medication and
psychotherapy.
